30 Day Book Challenge! Days 19-20: Birthdays and More...

Do you what today is?? On this very day, 9 years ago, mum was at the hospital, mid-surgery, and Megan and Madeline- our very own M&Ms - were making their entrance into the world! Of course, we celebrated in proper twin-style: pizza, brownie-cheesecake-layer-cake, and way too many giggles!

The dresses from yours truly :)

 Please note the slightly befuddled faces in the next two pictures...

The Twinkles' bedroom has been, heretofore, a mess. When they were wee ones, they didn't want to have separate beds, so they have had only one mattress in the bunk bed for years...but as young ladies of 9, they have outgrown the share-a-bed idea. Hence, a birthday present from mum & dad that was confusedly received in small packages of plastic shapes, wires, and metal clips...

Happy birthday to the Twinkles!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh yes, and I have those book challenge questions today, too, don't I?

Day 19: What is a book that you think is woefully underrated?

Easy answer. Little Dorrit, That Hideous Strength, The Ordinary Princess, The Princess and the Goblin, The Princess and Curdie, The Eagle of the Ninth, The Twelfth Imam, Wuthering Heights...I'm trying to make a point here. Pretty much all the books I like are woefully underrated.

Day 20: What is the environment in which you most enjoy reading?

Anywhere both quiet and pretty. Usually, this is my room. My first choice is always to read out of doors, but...the "quiet" factor is often compromised by wee siblings who also love the beautiful outside. :) I like to be comfortable, to not dread looking up while considering a part I just read (which if the room is awfully messy, etc, is the case), and to not be tempted to listen in on other conversations while I'm reading.

Where do you like to read?

Birthday Card

Dearest Twinkles in my eye,

Sweeter than an apple pie,

I wish, today, I was with you,

To celebrate your birthday, too!

 But since, instead, I'm miles away,

On this, your special 8th birthday,

I'm sending you upon a quest.

Follow the clues to know the rest!

But first, my dears, I need to say,

"Happy, Happy 8th Birthday!"

I miss you much, and love you more;

This year, I know, God has in store

So much for you to learn and do,

Be sure to love Him ~ He so loves you!

Obey and listen ~ spread His Joy

And Hope to every girl and boy!

Love again! Now here's the clue ~

Think carefully; It's up to you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have many hammers, but they're not for nails

Keys and pedals, but I don't drive

When pushed, I sing, when left, I'm silent

My sound makes the household come alive 
 

Giveaway Winners!

 



On the Twinkles' Bedroom Door Tonight

Just one of a million reasons why I love having wee ones around. :)

Make-It Monday: Muffins, Granola, and Blogs (Oh My!)

Happy October Monday! Is it as lovely where you are as it is here? Cloudless blue sky, trees with a multitude of colors, afternoons in the 70s...autumn in the Northwest is wonderful! :)


I've been saving up for this Make-It Monday. Not on purpose, necessarily, but because I just haven't gotten around to posting, the last few weeks. In the first place, I have been making breakfast with the Twinkles, and they both wanted to get pictures for me to post. It's the same lovely laptop camera, but it makes them happy, so without further ado...

 

Megs and I got up one morning, and decided to make muffins!

 

I was going to post the recipe but...I can't remember which one it was. :) I do know we substituted honey for sugar, and flax seed for over half the eggs, so it was fun to show "Nellie" (my recent nickname for her - don't ask) how to make and figure out the differences.

 

Muffins, home-made plum jam, and tea - what could be better?

 

They were delish!

 

And then we have the next week, with Maddy...

 

Before we were quite sure what we were making...

 

We decided on granola! Chopped macadamia nuts, almonds, and dry rolled oats, mixed into yogurt, jam, and honey ~ it was pretty good! :)

 

The last thing I've made (or am in the process of making) to share with you this Monday is ~ as you've probably deduced from the title ~ a blog! Yes, another one. I decided, the other day, to put together a blog for my music students/parents. On the practical side, there will be the policy, the schedule, pictures of the various bow exercises for violin students, competition updates... But this is where I need your help: What would you want on a blog your music teacher had? Information about concerts in the area? Music in the news? Book/movie reviews? My students are mostly in the 6-16 age range, so there's a wide spectrum of potential interest. What would make it fun? Check out the "under construction" deal here, and give me some feedback. I'm positively greedy for ideas, so even if you're a reader who never comments, or a person just passin' by this blog, hit me with any and every cool (and practical) brainstorms you have!

 

Happy Monday!

 

Make-It Monday: Twinkle Smiles

Hooray! Finally back to some Make-it Mondays! This post is in celebration of the completion of one of those "under the bed" projects...

I started these dresses almost exactly a year ago to sew for the Twinkles' birthday. Unfortunately, I forgot the oh-so-enviable fact that little girls often grow straight up without growing out for a couple years. Thus, the dresses fit them just lovely around the waist, but were rather on the short side for the "Sunday dresses" they had hoped to wear. Into a bag and under the bed they went, until such a time when I could (unemotionally) determine the fate of the ruffled hemlines.

At long last, a week or so ago, I pulled them out, cut up and ruffled several yards of eyelet, finished the hand-sewing, and voila! ruffly Sunday dresses! An unforeseen plus of using eyelet for the hem-extensions was the hoop-skirt-reminiscent "poof" at the bottom of the dresses - the eyelet was stiff enough to hold the lighter cotton out, which, of course, the girls loved!

goofy, goofy girls...

In the course of taking the pictures to show the finished project, we switched over to just doing a twin photo shoot. At the end, Maddy said, "Oh, Sarah, we have to do the Head-Heart-Shadow Picture! We love to do it!" As far as I can tell, they came up with it on their own. Also, just so you know, it is "just for twins to do".

Precious, isn't it? What are you working on this Monday?
 

Watch-It Wednesday: Red Blanket in the Great Room

"Sarah," the Twinkles begged last night, "Can we pleeeaase watch a movie?"

"No," was my heartless reply, "Absolutely not. We're not watching movies tonight."

"We'll pick a short one! Please? Please?"

"Nope. Why don't you guys make a movie...or at least, a play?"

"Can we do a story we already know?"

"For sure."

"Ok!!"

And so, with the help of Zachary, they put on a play for James and me 10 minutes later. Although they claimed it was the story of "Little Red Riding Hood", I'm not quite convinced because, well...maybe I'll just show you the story, and see if you recognize the plot. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Story of Little Red Riding Hood

(Mother): "Here Darling, take these cookies to your Grandmother so she will feel better."
(Little Red Riding Hood): "Yes Mother."
(Mother): "And do not stop to gather flowers in the woods!"
(Little Red Riding Hood): "Yes Mother."

(Narrator): "And then she met the big-bad-wolf"
{no picture, unfortunately, but he was shrouded in a gold-and-burgundy quilt}
(Wolf): "Hello, Little Girl. Why don't you pick some flowers for your Grandmother?
That way, she will like you better."

(Little Red Riding Hood): "Ok!"

(Narrator): "And then she came to her Grandmother's house."
{here there was some confusion about whether or not the one on the 'bed'
was the grandmother or the wolf. In the end, they determined she was the wolf}
(Little Red Riding Hood): "Grandmother, what great big eyes you have!"

(Big-Bad-Wolf): *Evil chuckle*

(Narrator - who also happened to be the hunter): "And then the hunter came in
and killed the big-bad-wolf and dragged her off!"
{here there was some confusion about whether or not they ever found the real grandmother
(they didn't)
and whether or not Little Red Riding Hood was ever punished for disobeying her mother
and picking flowers
(she wasn't)
In the end, they determined it would be best to take a final bow
(so they did)}

THE END!

Have a smiling Wednesday! Obey your mother, and don't believe any wolves who tell you that disobeying will make your grandma like you more! :)

Watch-It Wednesday: Swing It!

With little siblings, who needs movies? They're the stuff any good shows are made of, anyway: learning, maturing characters who are sweet, adorable, and hilarious. Yesterday, the Twinkles were invited to a 50s birthday party. They were so giggly-excited when mama bought them saddle shoes on Saturday, and when Friend Andi's mama gave them their poodle skirts two days ago...let's just say it took us a while to peel them off the ceiling! :)

  

 After getting all do-dadded up for the event, what remained to be done but some swing dancing? So put on the music and enjoy the show! About the third repeat of their dance, I just start laughing. I think we need to teach them a new move! :)

 Don't forget to turn the volume up...it's kind of quiet.

Have a swingin' Wednesday, Lollipop!

The Cast

Yesterday afternoon Meg and I went with Maddy and mama to get the arm set (when she broke it Thursday, they just splinted it). I really think my little sis is braver than I am. When the doctor popped her arm back into place, her sweet little face got suddenly very red, and her blue eyes got very wet, but no tears fell, and not a sound did she make. The real pain, though, came a few minutes later, as she was having her cast fitted. As the (doctor? nurse? I don't know) was squeezing the cast to shape it, her poor little lip began to tremble, and at last she turned her face the other way and covered her eyes with her left hand. Still, not a sound came from her baby-mouth (I know she's six, but at times like these she is definitely still my baby sis), but tears began to pour down her red face, and her breathing turned quick and heavy. Megan and I were not so brave. I had to grab a seat suddenly to keep from passing out, and Meggy and I hugged each other, on the verge of tears, and called whatever sweet things to Maddy we could think of. She was so precious, when it was done, lying there trying to regain her equilibrium without being noisy. Mama says she has completely cleared herself of her reputation from last time she was in the hospital, when she SCREAMED at every nurse, doctor, or assistant who dared to peek into her room. How brave she is!

After the cast was set, they had an X-ray to make sure the bone was straight, and for about ten minutes we were all on pins and needles, because the bone wasn't completely straight, and we weren't sure if the doctor would have to cut the cast and re-set it (can you imagine the poor baby going through that again?). We were so glad and thankful to the Lord when doctor told us it was fine where it was. Right now, the bone is about 10 degrees off - which he says is fine for a wee person, because it will grow back straight even from there - but she has to go in for another X-ray on Wednesday to make sure it hasn't shifted off anymore. If it does... li'l Maddy will have to do yesterday all over again. Pray for her!

Practicing eating with her left hand

However, while she would definitely be scared to go again - now knowing now exactly what it feels like - she was quick to bounce out of it, and melted mama and my hearts when she told daddy on the phone that "It did hurt me a little, and I had to cry some, but it's ok."

Ahhh Maddy girl. She is very excited about her deep purple cast, though! :)

There Once Was a Brave Little Princess...

...And one day, this little princess was about her royal duties - enjoying the sunshine and trees that her King-Papa had made - when she fell from a tree and - ouch! - broke both of her arm bones in two...

...but since she was a brave little princess, she only cried a very little bit right at the beginning...

...and when she was on the phone with her older sister-princess, she even went so far as to say "I'm having a great time!"...

...later, however, the truth came out, as she explained with furrowed brow to the same sister that "Having a broken arm isn't very fun. Especially with the X-rays. They twist it, and twist it..." her brave princess face echoing the pain it had felt an hour earlier...

...still, she did not whine, or fuss, or fidget, but sat patiently, watching a movie...

...until she fell asleep.

Such a brave wee sister I have! When you think of Maddy, please do pray that her arm heals quickly and well!

Today Was Good Because...

• Got up at 5:45 to practice quartet
• Went upstairs to snuggle the Twinkles awake, and ended up getting snuggled asleep - so I got to get up early and sleep in, all in the same day!
• Actually had Ben at home all day. He came downstairs to write his thank-you notes and played the kind of music I like all morning on his o-so-cool-of-a-speaker-system computer. So sweet to me... :)
• Made marionberry jam
• Read Psalm 29 and was reminded to give all my energies to Jesus, not just as much as I think I can spare...sometimes I'm tempted to conserve some for myself, to make sure I don't get all-tired out, but He reminded me that He will give me all the strength I need!
• Taught a violin lesson to an adorable 6-year-old
• Drove with the windows down - warm air pushing and tugging on my hair, the radio with Aaron Copland turned way up (I have to be able to hear it when the windows are down! :)
• Saw grandma and grandpa
• Worked in my garden
• Listened to the Twinkles journey away together to a make-believe garden in a make-believe world while they were "helping" me weed
• Saw God miraculously provide again at the Lord's Gym - this time with the groceries that we handed out after dinner

Today was good because our God is good, yes? :)

My Week - Part One: Birthday Party

Wednesday, July 20th.

Joint birthday party for Megan, Madeline, and Elizabeth, three days before the Twinkles' actual 6th birthday.